Page:Romance & Reality 1.pdf/215

Rh "is said to spring from beauty. I am rather inclined to reverse the genealogy. I pique myself upon my penetration, and will never trust it again, if my young friend is not improving her complexion, and losing her heart somewhat rapidly;—well, I think her to-night a most lovely creature." Lady Mandeville remembered how different she looked seated by Lady Alicia at her first ball; but to-night

She was placed so that her delicately cut features were seen in profile; the head a little thrown back, a little turned away—that half withdrawing attitude so graceful and so feminine; the mouth half opened, as if listening with such unconscious intenseness that the breath was rather inhaled than drawn—its least sound suppressed; the beautiful crimson of excitement glowed on the cheek, that rich passionate colour it can know but once—a thousand blushes gathered into one aurora; her eyes were entirely veiled by the long lashes, not from intention, but impulse, intuitively aware of his every glance,—she herself knew not that to